Harambee buses only to run through Boksburg possibly by end of year

To date, the Harambee BRT buses have been used by 10 000 people boarding their buses for Isando.

KTVR Bus Services recently held a stakeholders’ engagement forum. Seen here are (back) Tebogo Modise, Assaria Mataboge, Bhuthi Mahlangu, Saria Coleman and Faan Cloete. Front: Thembeka Msane, Yoland Foster, Puleng Ntuli and Solomon Mahlangu.

The long-anticipated Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system will only run through Boksburg possibly in November.

This was revealed during the KTVR Bus Services stakeholders’ engagement forum aimed at updating members on how the metro’s new bus project is unfolding during December.

KTVR Bus Services is a private company that operates the interim service of the Harambee Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network.

KTVR is an acronym for Kempton Park, Tembisa, Vosloorus and Reiger Park, the areas in which BRT will be operating.

Currently, the Harambee BRT route is still in Phase 1A, which runs from Tembisa in the north via Kempton Park and OR Tambo International Airport.

A new complimentary route that commences from Tembisa Hospital and continuing through to the OR Tambo International Airport has recently been extended.

KTVR’s chief operating officer Puleng Ntuli gave an update about the developments on the operations side.

Ntuli highlighted that an additional 10 buses have been added to the existing eight buses they started with totalling to 18 buses.

“The services start at 3.45am at Hospital View and the services will end at 10.20pm from OR Tambo coming back to Tembisa.”

Ntuli highlighted that they had to stop their services due to a few people who used their buses on Saturdays.

“Now with this extension and the airport working 24/7, we will reintroduce the Saturday services,”

It was also revealed that commuters can purchase their tickets from seven ticket selling points which include Hospital View, Rabasotho Hall, Station 12, Kempton Park Civic Centre, OR Tambo International Airport and two mobile kiosks (roving along the route.)

A total of 23 bus drivers who have gone through various training will be formally employed by December. These drivers were identified from the taxi industry.

KTVR also hosted various community projects, school outreaches and soccer tournaments throughout the year in Tembisa to make the community aware of their services.